LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – A Lafayette man and his two daughters were indicted in federal court in connection with a scheme to allegedly defraud a federal food program, authorities said.

The indictment charges Brian Desormeaux, 64, and his two daughters, Amy Desormeaux Hernandez, 38, and Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux, 34, each with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud.

Thr three are charged in connection with a scheme to defraud the Child and Adult Care Food Program, a federal program operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.

According to the indictment, Regional Nutrition Assistance, Inc., a Louisiana non-profit corporation located in Scott, was owned and operated by Executive Director Brian Desormeaux. Amy Desoremaux Hernandez served as its Assistant Director and Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux served as its Senior Program Manager, prosecutors said.

RNA was a “Sponsoring Organization” for the program and was responsible for administering it in certain locations, including day care homes, which are organized childcare programs for children enrolled in a private home. The program is intended to provide aid to the participants and family or group day care homes to provide nutritious foods for the health and wellness of young children, older adults and chronically impaired persons.

The indictment alleges that the defendants had access to KidKare/Minute Menu HX, the online portal used by Sponsoring Organizations to administer the program. It is alleged that Amy Hernandez would access the online portal at the beginning of the month to change Day Care Home Providers to “inactive” status to avoid monitoring and oversight by the Louisiana Department of Education. Then at the end of the month, she would change those “inactive” Day Care Home providers back to “active” status so that claims could be submitted to LDOE for reimbursement by USDA, prosecutors said.

All three defendants allegedly submitted or caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to LDOE for reimbursement from USDA, to include claims that children were being cared for and fed at day care home providers when in fact, they were not. It is also alleged that some of those day care home providers were deceased at the time claims were made on their behalf.

The indictment also alleges that Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux submitted false and fraudulent state fire marshal inspection reports for day care home providers so that they would be in compliance with LDOE’s requirements for inclusion in the program, which was necessary for reimbursements. The indictment further alleges that these three defendants submitted false and fraudulent claims seeking reimbursement they were not entitled to, causing LDOE and USDA to pay at least $400,000 in fraudulent claims.

If convicted, each defendant faces not more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, on each count.

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